Our Ambassadors
Our Integral Ambassador
Katherine Berney
Katherine is a passionate advocate for the safety, equality and wellbeing of women and children across Australia. As Director of the National Women’s Safety Alliance, she brings extensive experience across the not-for-profit, government and community sectors, along with a genuine commitment to changing the statistics for women. Her passion for collaboration, advocacy and creating safer communities is truly inspiring. Katherine continues to empower women, amplify their voices and give hope to so many across the country.
Lauren Cassimatis
Lauren is one of Victoria’s top criminal lawyers, a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist, and founder of Gallant Law. With over 20 years of experience, she is renowned for her legal expertise, compassion, and dedication to clients, ensuring they feel supported throughout stressful legal proceedings. Lauren also founded Connecting Lawyer Mums (CLM), a nationwide network empowering over 12,000 lawyer mothers with professional development, networking, and well-being resources. As an Adjunct Lecturer at the College of Law, she mentors future lawyers in advocacy and practical skills. Passionate about access to justice, Lauren actively supports charitable initiatives like Aboriginal Youth Sport and Recreation, St Kilda Mums, and Pride in Law, inspiring positive change in both the legal and broader community.
Corinne West
Corinne is Head of Diversity and Inclusion at King & Wood Mallesons for Australia and Singapore and one of Australia’s foremost culture transformation experts. With over 20 years’ experience driving complex change across sectors including the Australian Army, Victoria Police, and Fire Rescue Victoria, she excels in tackling entrenched toxic cultures, even in settings where positive optics masks issues. A fierce advocate for human rights, Corinne uses intersectionality as a framework for reform to address systemic inequities. She acknowledges her privilege and limitations, creating space for diverse voices to lead change. At King & Wood Mallesons, Corinne embodies this philosophy through initiatives like Words Can Harm, an animation series co-designed with employees to highlight the impact of language on well-being and inclusion.
Belinda Hughes
Belinda is an accomplished prosecutor, having spent more than a decade with the New South Wales Police Force, attaining the rank of Sergeant and prosecuting some of the most significant cases arising from organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs. Following her time with the New South Wales Police Force, Belinda moved to Transport for New South Wales to lead their prosecution team. As a Senior Manager, she was responsible for a team of over 30 lawyers, advocates and administration staff and prosecuting over 36,000 matters per year. Belinda commenced as the National Director of Prosecutions with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in 2020. Belinda leads the Prosecutions Team with over 40 staff, based across New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. The team supports Heavy Vehicle investigations and prosecutes on behalf of South Australian Victorian and New South Wales Police, together with the NHVR Safety Compliance Officers and Investigators. Belinda has a Masters’s Degree in Law, a Bachelor of Law, a Bachelor of Criminology and a Diploma in Policing Practice.
Joanna Abraham
Joanna is a Lecturer at the College of Law and President of Victorian Women Lawyers (VWL), the peak body supporting women in the legal profession in Victoria. A champion for gender equity and diversity, she leads strategic initiatives addressing mentorship, community engagement, and justice issues, including sexual harassment. With extensive experience in Administrative, Immigration, and Refugee Law, Joanna has worked with marginalized clients, including refugees, family violence survivors, and those facing deportation. Recognized as one of Australia's 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians and a leading Human Rights Lawyer in 2024, she was also Highly Commended at the 2020 Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence. As a board member of Afri-Aus Care, Joanna advises on migration and family violence issues, driven by her belief that grassroots needs must guide decision-making. Her impactful leadership exemplifies a commitment to justice and equity both within and beyond the legal sector.
Sapphire Parsons
Sapphire works as a Senior Associate in Workplace Law at Macpherson Kelley, in the areas of employment, discrimination, industrial relations, and psychological safety. As a survivor of domestic and gendered violence, Sapphire has transformed her pain into purpose, harnessing the power of education, advocacy, and collaboration with those who have the power to make the greatest difference. In recognition for her work in this space, in 2023, Sapphire was the Winner of the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Award for Workplace Health and Safety. She was also a Nominee for the National Protective Services Safety and Wellbeing in the Workplace Award which forms part of the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards for Victoria. Sapphire was also selected as a Bond University Ambassador for their 2023 Giving Day. In 2022, she was the Winner of the Rising Star of the Year Award at the Women in Law Awards. She was also a Finalist for the Innovator of the Year and Women in Law Excellence Awards and was a Finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards for Workplace, Health & Safety.
Fiona Kirkman
Fiona is the Global Family Law Evangelist at Smokeball, a leading global legal practice management software. She is also the Co-Founder of Family Property, an expert family law system that streamlines the family law process. With 20 years of experience in the legal industry, Fiona is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law, a Mediator FDRP, and a Collaborative Coach and holds a Masters in Applied Law (majoring in Family Law). She runs her own mediation and collaborative coach firm, Kirkman Family Law, where she helps families resolve their disputes without going to court. Fiona is passionate about using dispute resolution and legal technology to make the legal process more efficient and affordable for families. She is also an advocate for the education of the next generation of family lawyers and mediators, mentoring a number of students within her firm.
Asha Bhat OAM
Asha is the CEO of Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC) and an internationally acclaimed leader dedicated to social justice, equality, diversity, and inclusion. At the helm of SAC, she drives transformative initiatives in affordable housing, employment, youth empowerment, suicide prevention, health advocacy, family violence support, and legal services. Her landmark achievement is expanding family violence prevention legal services, improving access to justice for Aboriginal communities. Recognized with prestigious honors, including the 2022 Order of Australia Medal, 2023 WA Women’s Hall of Fame, and WA Excellence in Women’s Leadership Award 2024, she also holds international accolades like the Stevie Gold Businesswomen’s Award and UNAA Gender Equality Promotion Award. A sought-after keynote speaker and media expert on social and emotional wellbeing, migrant success, and holistic family support, Asha’s leadership inspires change.
(Waskam) Emelda Davis
Emelda is a trailblazing leader and the first Black woman elected to Sydney City Council in its 180-year history. A proud second-generation Australian South Sea Islander (ASSI) and long-time Pyrmont resident, she is a passionate community builder with decades of experience across government, corporate and grassroots sectors. Emelda has advised State and Commonwealth Government agencies on culturally specific Indigenous knowledge and continues to champion equity, inclusion, social justice, climate action and resilient communities. Her leadership, courage and commitment to creating meaningful change are truly inspiring. Emelda is a powerful voice for her community and an outstanding example of how advocacy and leadership can create lasting impact.
Keeley Johnson
Keeley, a remarkable 19-year-old from Victoria, is the founder of Keeley’s Cause, a national charity she launched at just 13 to provide communication aids for children with disabilities. Keeley overcame challenges in the mainstream education system with the help of a communication iPad, inspiring her to ensure other children could access similar tools. Since 2019, Keeley’s Cause has raised over $300,000 through community initiatives and provided more than 400 iPads to children in need, empowering them with confidence and independence. Keeley’s extraordinary impact has earned her multiple accolades, including The Diana Award (2020), Young Women of the Year (2023), and Champion Social Enterprise Business (2023). Her passion, resilience, and commitment to inclusion continue to transform lives, making Keeley a true force for change.